9.—(1) The Public Service Commission may, where a public officer is convicted of a criminal charge —
(a)
consider the record of the proceedings of the court; and
(b)
if it is of the opinion that the public officer should be dismissed, reduced in rank, or otherwise punished, punish the public officer accordingly after he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(2) The Public Service Commission shall not be obliged to appoint a Committee of Inquiry in the circumstances set out in paragraph (1).